Sign molding



Aug. 2, 1966 R. L. CARLETON 3,263,357

S I GN MOLDING Original Filed June 21, 1961 22 2 as; W H/ 244 I g 2.54

INVENTOR.

AT RNEK United States Patent 0 3,263,357 SIGN MOLDENG Richard L.Carleton, Raytown, Mo., assignor to Butler Manufacturing Company, KansasCity, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Continuation of abandonedapplication Ser. No. 118,678, lune 21, 1961. This application Jan. 22,1965, Ser. No. 432,048

1 Claim. (Cl. 40-125) This is a continuation of application Serial No.118,678 filed June 21, 1961, entitled, Sign Molding, now abancloned.

This invention relates to moldings for outdoor signs and refers moreparticularly to an all purpose molding of simple construction adapted tobe easily applied to and removed from an outdoor sign.

The instant structure or construction is adapted to be used with manytypes of outdoor signs including those shown in application Serial No.99,201, file-d March 29, 1961, now Patent Number 3,160,974., inventorRichard L. Carleton, Poster Panel, and U.S. Patent 2,901,849, inventorR. B. Callison, issued September 1, 1959, for Advertising Panel.

An object of the invention is to provide an attractive molding or bordertrim for a signboard structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a molding for a signstructure or sign panel system which is not bolted directly to the signor the panels thereof and thus does not require the usual mountinghardware, but, instead, envelops the panel face, receiving the necessarysupport from the panel sections thereof, whereby to provide greatlyenhanced ease, quickness and cheapness of installation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a molding or border trimfor a sign structure of the type made up of individual panels mountedeither horizontally or vertically, wherein the border trim itself aidsin maintenance of coplanar relationship of the panels relative to oneanother and also aids in maintaining the integrity of the signstructure, as well as providing a convenient decorative means ofattractive appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sign molding or bordertrim which may be employed upon signs of a particular desired sizewithout necessarily increasing the height and width of the sign proper.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sign molding or bordertrim which is of extremely simple construction, relatively cheap tomanufacture, handy and cheap to ship, easy to apply and remove, andwhich adheres closely and ruggedly to the sign although permitting easyremoval and application.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sign molding whichrequires only one form of side molding and one form of top and bot-tornmolding whereby side sections are interchangeable and upper and lowerlikewise.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course ofthe following description thereof.

In the drawings, which form a part of the instant specificationand areto be read in conjunction therewith, an embodiment of the invention isshown and, in the various views, like numerals are employed to indicatelike parts.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a typical panel sign constructionwith the inventive molding or border trim emplaced thereon,

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 in the direction ofthe arrows.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the corner engagement of the side andupper or lower molding portions of the subject sign construction priorto application.

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of the construction of FIG. 3 taken from thelower right-hand portion of that view and looking upwardly to the left.

The subject molding is shown mounted on a panel system of the type shownin the application of Richard L. Carleton, supra. The entire panelsystem will not be redescribed in detail and its structure isincorporated by reference herein to avoid such re-description. However,certain generalized characteristics will be repeated for convenience.

A plurality of horizontally mountable panels, generally designated 10,11 and 12 are provided, the panels being mountable on stringers orchannel posts 13 (FIG. 2). Such horizontal panels are of a lengthgreater than the distance between the stringers or posts. The number ofposts or stringers employed in an installation depends largely upon thelength of the panels employed in the total advertising sign structure.Except in the case of extremely long panel members or in the case ofsigns contemplating very high windl-oad, a pair of posts or stringers issufficient. The number of horizontal panel members employed in aninstallation may be varied, but three is typical.

Certain of the construction of the individual horizontal panel membersis seen in FIG. 2. Each said panel typically comprises a horizontallyelongated front sheet 14, each having a pair of rearwardly extendingflanges 15 and 16 along the lower and upper opposite longitudinal edgesthereof, respectively. Both of said flanges preferably have inturnedlips 17 and 18 along the rearmost edges thereof. Preferably, the frontsheets are continuous with the flanges but, if desired, the flanges anda tab may be separately formed and stapled or otherwise attached tofront panels ofvaried materials tomeet varied sign adhesion problems.Each flange 15 and 16 preferably .has at least one longitudinallyextending concave or convex corrugation forming an outwardly extendingor inwardly projecting rib 15a or 16a at one edge of the panel.Complementary ribs or grooves must be formed at the opposing edge orflange of the adjacent panel (see FIG. 2). The complementary rib andgroove construction in a plurality of panels provides means forinterlocking adjacent panels in a common plane when they are positionedside by side. The corresponding ribs and grooves are preferably formedmidway between the panel face 14 and the rear inturned lips 17 and 18.It should be noted that the corrugations are relatively deep whencompared with the width of the flanges 15 and 16, taking on the form ofa U having parallel legs. By providing thistype of construction, theinterlocking of adjacent panels in a common plane is insured even thoughthe panels may not, for some reason, closely' abut one another. In otherWords, should the panels become slightly vertically separated, one fromanother, the panels will still remain locked together in a common planeby 'virtue of the deep corrugations and no play between the two in adirection normal to the faces thereof will be permitted.

In the construction shown, a plurality of essentially verticallyextending panel stilfeners generally designated 19 are mounted on therear face of panel faces 14 of the horizontally extending panels, spacedto oppose the vertical mounting means. Means (not shown) are provided onthe panel stiffeners which are removably and vertically engageable anddisengageable with portions of the vertical mounting means for removablymounting the panels on the vertical mounting means. The panel stiffenerspreferably comprise formed metal sheets essentially U-shaped in crosssection, the closed face 20 of the U or bottom thereof being positionedopposed to and away from the panel faces 14. The edges 21 are preferablyoutwardly turned to form a base for the panel stiffeners and lie flatagainst the rear face of the panel sheet 14. Stiffeners 19 arepreferably of a length, when positioned at right angles to flanges 15and 16 to extend substantially flange to flange on the backs of thepanels 14 and preferably are of a thickness to just fit under inturnedlips 17 and 18. Means are provided to removably fix the panel stiffenersto the panels.

It should be understood that any flat face sign member, made up of aplurality of panels, vertically or horizontally or otherwise oriented,or a single panel may employ the subject molding or border trim. Allthat is required is a continuous projecting edge of the sign which themolding may engage.

Referring to the sign molding comprising the instant invention, and moreparticularly FIGS. 2-4, inclusive, the molding comprises upperhorizontal piece 22, lower horizontal piece 23 and two vertical pieces24 and 25. Pieces or members 22 and 23 are identical in all respectswhereby to be completely interchangeable, while the same is true ofvertical members 24 and 25. The cross-sectional structure of each of themembers 22-25, inclusive, is identical and will now be described.

The front face of the molding comprises an outwardly inclined panel face26, preferably but not necessarily an outwardly peaked V-shaped portion27 and an abutting flange 28 which, in assembled position on the panel,ap-

proaches the panel faces 14 approximately normal thereto.

The engaging portion of the molding comprises an edge flange or strip 29preferably but not necessarily of greater depth than the depth of therearward flanges 15 and 16 of the panel members connecting at its outeredge with member 26 and an inwardly turned rear face member or returnflange 30. The entire molding member is constructed of metal ofsufficient resiliency that the engaging portions 29 and 30 may beresiliently bent outwardly to engage the panel members and then snapback in thereover to the position of FIG. 2. The depth of member 28 ispreferably greater than the excess of depth of member 29 over flanges 15and 16. The excess depth of strip or flange 29 is of use if the member30 must fit over any panel or support structures such as support tabs(not shown) on the stringers 13. The width of return flange 30 is sodesigned to be long enough to maintain contact with the back edge of thepanel but short enough to slip over the panel easily as will bedescribed.

The molding members 22-25, inclusive, are mitered at the ends thereofasshown at a and b of each number whereby to meet in engaging facing.The members 22 25, inclusive, are of such length that the mitered edgesprecisely contact when the members 29 abut the members 15 or 16 or theends of the panel sheets in snug contacting engagement.

Means are provided to connect the mitered edges of the portions of themold sections as seen in FIG. 3. The inner connection is provided by aV-shaped strip 31 which is connected by metal screws 32 and 33 to theabutting edges and inner faces of the members 28 on the horizontal andvertical members which meet one another. Openings are provided throughthe said members 28 adjacent the mitered edges thereof to receive thesaid screws. The outboard connection takes place between the members29at the mitered edges of vertical and horizontal members and comprises atab 34 which is attached to either a vertical or a horizontal moldingsection along the mitered edge of the engaging portion 29, bent at rightangles thereto and having a screw hole 35 therein. This is matched by acorresponding screw hole or borehole 36 in the connecting vertical orhorizontal member. It is most emphatically preferred that the outerscrew hole 36 be, in the horizontal panel arrangement as seen in FIG. 1,on the vertical members whereby the screws or bolts connecting throughthe screw holes 35 and 36 will pass into the hollow ends of the panelswithout having to abut the edges thereof. This may be seen on the leftedge of the panel assembly in FIG. 1 with member 24 having two screwholes 36 therein. In the case of a vertical panel system (not shown) thescrew holes would preferably be in the portions 29 of members 22 and 23which would overlie the upper ends of the vertically mounted panels. Thecompleted screw connection through the openings 36 and 35 is seen inFIG. 4 with screw 37 positioned therein.

Thus it is seen that a rigid mitered edge connection may be made betweenthe vertical and horizontal molding sections without requiring anyconnection to the panel system. The molding construction is merely sosized as to closely fit therearound and by its engagement to itselfprovide a secure snug engagement, as well as an attractive appearance.

It should be noted that the members 31 are screwed onto the portions 28of all of the sign members prior to assembly so that the entirerectangular mold frame is rigidly connected inwardly of the lengththereof prior to assembly on the sign panel system. The screwconnections through openings 36 and 35 are not made prior to applicationto the panel. The sign panel members 10, 11 and 12 having been alreadyerected on ,the supports, the operators then lift the partly connectedsign molding as a unit upwardly and emplace it on the panel assembly bysnapping the engaging sections 29 and 30 over the panel end edges andside edges, that is, the upper edge of panel 10, the lower edge of panel12 and the end edges of panels 10, 11 and 12. Once this action is taken,each corner may be snugged down and engaged at its outer portion by thescrew connection through openings 35 and 36. To disassemble, the exactopposite procedure is taken, namely, the screw connections throughopenings 35 and 36 are released whereby. the entire sign molding may belifted off to give access to the panels or their supports or to portionsof the molding itself for repair or replacement of parts thereof.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forthtogether with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of theclaim.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a sign construction including a panel portion having substantiallyparallel side edges and substantially parallel top and bottom edges, allof said panel portion edges free, said panel portion having front andrear faces, a molding structure including a pair of vertical side edgemembers and a pair of horizontal top and bottom edge members making uptwo sets of said members, the side edge members each comprising anelongate configured strip adapted to overlie in direct contact with andenclose one side edge of the sign panel and engage the panel portionresiliently on its front and rear faces, the top and bottom edge memberseach comprising an elongate configured strip adapted to overlie indirect contact with and enclose one of the top and bottom edges of thesign panel and engage the panel portion resiliently on its front andrear faces, the corners of the edge members mitered at their junctures,each edge member including a rear strip portion adapted to lie againstthe rear face of the sign panel, an edge portion adapted to lie againstthe sign panel edge, an outwardly angled facing portion adapted tooverlie but not contact the panel face and an inwardly extending panelabutting portion, and means for connecting each of said molding side andtop and bottom edge members to end abutting members of the other of thetwo sets of edge members, said edge portion is of greater width than thewidth of the edge it contacts, the means for end connections between endabutting molding sections are present in the inwardly extending panelabutting portion and panel edge contacting portions thereof the former 6a L'strip fastened with respective legs of the L to the inwardlyextending panel abutting portions and the latter a tab on one of thepanel edge contacting portions fastened to an opposed panel edgecontacting portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,742,667 1/1930Purdy 40-125 1,850,180 3/1932 Pinney 40l52 X 2,593,195 4/1952 Rosenberg40152 X 2,616,197 11/1952 Osburn 40-152 2,775,833 1/1957 Wishart 401252,804,952 9/1957 Nothdurft 40152 2,901,849 9/1959 Callison 40125 EUGENER. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

HERBERT F. ROSS, Assistant Examiner.

